Once perceived as an exotic delicacy – bought only as a luxury gift or an extravagant treat – the Chinese consumers’ taste for chocolate is growing and the ingredient is quickly cementing a niche for itself in bakery.

Leading pod-to-pallet chocolate supplier, Barry Callebaut, is targeting manufacturers in the Americas with a stevia-based dark chocolate for use in multiple applications, including moulding, enrobing and inclusions.

Cocoa prices have proved resilient in the economic downturn, even as other commodity prices have slumped, and confectionery manufacturers are concerned that tight supply will keep prices high for some time yet.

In recent years organic confectionery products have become
increasingly popular but are consumers willing to stick by their
principals in the face of rising food prices or will they turn
towards a cheaper alternative?

Barry Callebaut has successfully closed its acquisition of a 60 per
cent stake in Malaysia's KLK Cocoa - a strategic move expected to
give the Swiss firm leverage to expand in the high-potential
Asia-Pacific region.

Barry Callebaut has acquired a 49 per cent stake in Biolands of
Tanzania, Africa's largest exporter of certified organic cocoa,
after purchasing 100 per cent of its top-end cocoa for the past
eight years.